Oregon Council Awards Program

Each year, the Oregon Council presents awards to deserving individuals and clubs. In the past the awards have been presented at the banquet at the NW Fly Tying and Flyfishing Expo. Beginning this year, we will be presenting the awards at our annual meeting in December. The deadline for nominations has been moved until the 1st of September. All nominations can be submitted by email to Keith Burkhart at [email protected] for review and distribution to the Board of Directors. Be sure to include the nominee's contact information in the submissions.

Awards Program Criteria & Procedures

The Oregon Council Awards Program is a means to recognize the accomplishments of members of the Oregon Council for outstanding efforts during the past year. The awards will be presented annually at the Northwest Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo. The program consists of the five awards and criteria listed below.

DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS SEPTEMBER 1ST OF EACH YEAR

FLYFISHER OF THE YEAR – Given annually to the individual who has demonstrated unusual devotion to the Oregon Council and, through outstanding contributions, has benefitted the Oregon Council and the Federation as an international organization.

  1. A minimum of three years of membership and service to the Council is required.
  2. Service should be voluntary.
  3. The individual should not have previously won the award.
  4. The award should be for achievements that are council-wide in scope.
  5. Continuing service is of prime importance. Therefore, consideration generally should be weighted 70% for cumulative service and 30% for achievements in the past year.
  6. Devotion and contributions to the Council should be consistent with Council and IFFF objectives and be superior to those other candidates.

All nominations are to be submitted to the Council Awards Chair. Final decisions are to be made by the Council Executive Board.

CLUB OF THE YEAR – An award is given annually to the Oregon Council Club which has made the most outstanding contributions on behalf of the Oregon Council.

  1. Must be a member of a club with at least three years of continuous affiliation.
  2. Award should be based on cumulative service, but significant activities in the past year are important. A ratio of 70% past years to 30% present year should serve as a guideline but not be restrictive.
  3. Activities and services performed should be primarily on behalf of the Council. Those functions may have as their primary outlet another organization, but ultimately benefiting the Council should be of secondary consideration.
  4. Outstanding contributions are those that are conspicuous in relation to others – consistent contributions over a period of time. Contributions should be defined as those acts that fall within the scope of (insert reference to Council Bylaws)

All nominations are to be submitted to the Council Awards Chair. Final decisions are to be made by the Council Executive Board.

STAN WALTERS MEMORIAL FLY TYER OF THE YEAR – An award given annually to that person who has made significant contributions to the art of fly tying.

  1. Must be an IFFF member in good standing.
  2. Can be an amateur or professional. (This is a difficult area. What an amateur does out of sheer love and enjoyment is what a professional must do to make a living. Nevertheless, it is often the professional who, through their skills, offers more to the advancement of the art. Therefore, it will be necessary to make some judgment on intent. Obviously, if the primary intent is to teach and share knowledge, it should merit serious consideration.)
  3. Advancement of the art can be on the local or regional level.
  4. Participation in the Council is not a prerequisite, but any activity that benefits the Council should be highly regarded.
  5. Achievements and contributions should promote the advancement of the arts, and qualifications should be superior to those of other candidates.

All nominations are to be submitted to the Council Awards Chair. Nominations will be forwarded to the Northwest Fly Tying Expo Tying Chair. The Tying Chair along with his committee of two others, will forward their recommendations to the Awards Chair. Final decisions are to be made by the Council Executive Board.

FRANK MOORE CONSERVATION AWARD – An award is given to an individual, group, or organization that has made extraordinary contributions to the conservation of our fisheries resources. The criteria are as follows:

  1. The individual, group, or organization need not be affiliated with the Oregon Council of the IFFF.
  2. Individuals, clubs, groups, organizations, and state departments or agencies are eligible for this award.
  3. This award should be based on a single outstanding contribution or on a continuous prominent effort promoting conservation.
  4. The individual, group, or organization should have not previously won the award.
  5. The award need not be an annual award but would be given on an “as merited” basis.
  6. Extraordinary contributions are those that are superior and conspicuous in relation to others and consistent with the philosophies of the Oregon Council.

All nominations are to be submitted to the Council Awards Chair and routed to the Council VP of Conservation for evaluation and recommendation. Final decisions are to be made by the Council Executive Board.

POLLY ROSBOROUGH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Established in 1993, this is an award presented to an individual who has shown unusual devotion and has made outstanding contributions to the Oregon Council, its member clubs, and fly fishers in general.

  1. Must be a member in good standing of the IFFF.
  2. A minimum of ten years’ service is required.
  3. The nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria:
    1. It has promoted the sport of fly fishing and enhanced the knowledge and ability of other fly fishers.
    2. Has devoted energy to youth education activities to help the next generation of fly fishers.
    3. Has made significant contributions to the preservation and enhancement of fishery resources.
    4. Is a proven teacher in the arts and sciences of fly fishing.
    5. Has shown unusual devotion to the Oregon Council and, through outstanding contributions, has benefited the Oregon Council as an organization.
  4. To preserve the integrity of this award, it is recommended that it be awarded judiciously and infrequently, but it is not intended that the frequency stipulation deprive truly deserving individuals of it.
  5. Nominations to be made to the Oregon Council President and require a two-thirds majority vote of the entire Board of Directors.

Achievement in Fly Casting -

This award is presented to individuals who have made significant, long-term contributions to fly casting education. Contributions may include teaching, innovation in fly casting techniques, writing, motivation and sharing their knowledge of teaching to advance the goals of the Fly-Casting Program.

  • A. The nominee must have served a minimum of 5 years in fly casting education.
  • B. Long-term contributions must have been made to fly casting instruction in areas that include teaching, innovation in fly casting techniques, casting instruction publication, promotion of fly-casting development, sharing knowledge of teaching and contributions to the Fly-Casting Education Program.
  • C. The nominee should be a current or previous member of FFI and achieved CI, MCI, THCI or THMCI status within the FFI Casting Instruction Certification Program
  • D. The award can be presented to one individual per year.

Oregon Council FFI Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Education Award

This award is presented to individuals who have made significant, long-term contributions to fly casting education. Contributions may include teaching, innovation in fly casting techniques, writing, motivation and sharing their knowledge of teaching to advance the goals of the Fly-Casting Education Program.

  • A. The nominee must have served a minimum of 10 years in fly casting education.
  • B. Long-term contributions must have been made to fly casting instruction in areas that include teaching, innovation in fly casting techniques, casting instruction publication, promotion of fly- casting development, sharing knowledge of teaching and contributions to the Fly-Casting Education Program and/or Casting Instructor Certification Program. Nominee should be a current or previous member of FFI.
  • C. To preserve the integrity of this award it is recommend that it be awarded judiciously and infrequently, but it is not intended that the frequency stipulation deprive truly deserving individuals.

Oregon Council Awards History

Polly Rosborough Lifetime Achievement Award

  • 2023 Sherry Steele
  • 2015 Greg Pitts
  • 2003 Keith Burkhart
  • 1999 Skip Hosfield

Frank Moore Conservation Award

  • 2024 Klamath River Renewal Corporation
  • 2023 Deschutes River Alliance
  • 2020 Thomas Colbert
  • 2019 McKenzie Fly Fishers

Stan Walters Memorial Fly Tyer of the Year

  • 2024 Garrett Lesko
  • 2023 Bryan Cohen
  • 2020 Jackson Leong
  • 2019 Ilene Hirsh
  • 2018 Garren Wood
  • 2017 John Kreft
  • 2016 John Olschewsky
  • 2015 Cathy & David Hamilton
  • 2014 Vic Hadley
  • 2013 Dave Roberts
  • 2012 Keith Burkhart
  • 2011 Jim Fisher
  • 2010 Hal Gorden
  • 2009 Jerry Criss
  • 2008 Dick Winter
  • 2007 Rich Youngers

Oregon Council Fly Tyer of the Year

  • 2006 Jim Ferguson
  • 2005 Al Brunell
  • 2004 Jim Schollmeyer
  • 2003 Harry Gross
  • 2002 David Barlow
  • 2001 Larry Nicholas
  • 2000 Henry Hoffman
  • 1999 Gene Trump
  • 1998 Cliff Adams
  • 1997 Robert Borden Jr.
  • 1996 Ray Burkhart
  • 1995 John Shewey
  • 1994 Gerald James
  • 1993 Joe Howell
  • 1992 John Rodriguez
  • 1991 Stan Walters
  • 1990 Lee Clark

Oregon Council Fly Fisher of the Year

  • 2024 Bob Elliott
  • 2023 Tom Peck
  • 2020 Terry Willis
  • 2019 Dale Zemke
  • 2018 Hal Gordon
  • 2017 Garren Wood
  • 2016 John Kreft
  • 2015 Jim Crislip
  • 2014 Marv Clemons
  • 2013 Butch Minich & Sue Gabel
  • 2012 Carol Labranche & Kim Devries
  • 2011 Jim Ferguson
  • 2010 Sherry Steele
  • 2009 Alan Canfield
  • 2008 Dwight Klemm
  • 2007 Jan & Jim Fisher
  • 2006 Skip Hosfield
  • 2005 Keith Burkhart
  • 2004 Mary Jo Pitts
  • 2003 Al Brunell & Thomas Gilg
  • 2002 Don Y. Abing
  • 2001 Bob Rasmussen
  • 2000 Bill Meier
  • 1999 John Colburn
  • 1998 Keith Burkhart
  • 1997 Greg Pitts
  • 1996 John Crocker
  • 1995 Kent Jennings
  • 1994 Bill Mayer
  • 1993 Thom Porterfield
  • 1992 Greg Pitts
  • 1991 Greg Pitts
  • 1990 Skip Hosfield & Keith Burkhart

Oregon Council Club of the Year

  • 2024 Linn Benton Fly Fishers
  • 2023 Santiam Flycasters
  • 2020 McKenzie Flyfishers
  • 2019 Cascade Family Fly Fishers
  • 2018 North Santiam Spey Casters
  • 2017 McKenzie Flyfishers
  • 2016 Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild
  • 2015 Central Oregon Flyfishers
  • 2014 Washington County Fly Fishers
  • 2013 Klamath Country Fly Casters
  • 2012 Blue Mountain Fly Casters
  • 2011 Umpqua Valley Fly Fishers
  • 2010 Cascade Family Fly Fishers
  • 2009 Central Coast Flyfishers
  • 2008 Central Oregon Flyfishers
  • 2007 Northwest Fly Fishers
  • 2006 Rogue Fly Fishers
  • 2005 Cascade Family Fly Fishers
  • 2004 Stonefly Maidens
  • 2003 Santiam Flycasters
  • 2002 The Steamboaters
  • 2001 McKenzie Flyfishers
  • 2000 Sunriver Anglers
  • 1999 Southern Oregon Fly Fishers
  • 1998 Rainland Flycasters
  • 1997 Central Oregon Flyfishers
  • 1996 Southern Oregon Fly Fishers
  • 1995 Cascade Family Fly Fishers
  • 1994 Mid-Willamette Fly Fishers
  • 1993 Central Oregon Flyfishers
  • 1992 Lower Umpqua Flycasters
  • 1991 MH Kelley
  • 1990 The Steamboaters